France confirms first Ebola case in healthcare worker returning from DR Congo

Paris, June 24 (SANA) France has confirmed its first case of Ebola virus disease after a physician returned from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where a major outbreak is ongoing, the French Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

AFP quoted the ministry as saying that “a confirmed case of Ebola has been recorded on French mainland territory,” without providing further details on the patient’s condition.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is facing an outbreak of the virus. The World Health Organization said last Friday that 75 healthcare workers had been infected, with 17 deaths recorded since the start of the current outbreak.

Separately, the UN Refugee Agency has issued an urgent appeal for $14 million to fund emergency preparedness and response plans between July and November, as efforts continue to contain the disease and support affected health systems.

R.H/Abd